“For He rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Col. 1:13)

In a study of the kingdom of God, it is important to see that when we contrast the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God, the contrast is as stark as light and darkness, as important as life and death. In this verse, Paul says that we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s Son. Jesus commonly talked about these two kingdoms, not just in contrast, but in opposition. The kingdom of this world desires to destroy our lives. Jesus said, “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy; but I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” By God’s grace we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness. Jesus died and rose again so that we would no longer be slaves to the worldly kingdom. We have been set free.

So, we have been transferred out of darkness and into the light of God’s kingdom. We are now residents of a kingdom ruled by love, grace, and truth. We do not have to wait until we go to heaven to benefit from our membership in God’s kingdom. Even as we live on this earth, God has provided us His Word, His Holy Spirit, and one another so that we might exercise our new heavenly citizenship. As new creatures in Christ we can allow the likeness of Christ to shine through our words and actions. We can let the world around us know what it is like to be rescued from darkness and set free.

Today, may we live as people who have been rescued from death and given a second chance at life.